Miss Bertha Helena Lehmann was born in Anamosa, Iowa, April 17, 1873 and died at the home of her parents, Tuesday, June 14, after an illness of about 6 months. The funeral services were held at the house on the following Thursday at 1:30 P.M. and were conducted by Rev E. W. Beers, who took his text II Timothy, 1:10 "Our Savior Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death and hath brought life and immortality to light through the Gospel". The music which was very sweet and appropriate, was furnished by L.W. Norton, Clyde Lampson, Miss Maude Hakes and Miss Belle Andrews, and consisted of the following pieces: The Rose of Sharon, When the Mists Have Rolled Away and Nearer My God to Thee.
Miss Lehmann was a member of the Junior class in the high school. She was especially fond of books and study and looked forward eagerly to the time of graduation after which she intended to teach.
Being of a bright and joyous temperament, she naturally had very many friends. There is a sadness in death when one has passed their "three score years and ten", but this sadness is multiplied when a young person is snatched away on the very threshold of life and is looking forward with all the hopes and aspirations peculiar to this period.
She passed away at a quarter-past ten in the morning, a very fitting hour for one to die who was in the bloom of youth and had just entered upon her twentieth year. Also fitting was it that she should pass away in this lovely month of June, the month of promise with its growing grass, leafy trees, blooming flowers and singing birds.
Fitting that the one who shortly before her death sung in her sleep the tune of Nearer My God to Thee so sweetly that it sounded to the parents at her bedside as if it came from angelic voices in the other world, should fall asleep in death as quietly and gently as the babe falls asleep upon its mother's bosom.
Her wanting not only the principal of the school, her teachers and her own class, but also all the classes with which she had been associated, to pay her a visit together, so she might look them into their faces and greet them once more here on earth shows how she lived outside of herself, how her whole life went out and became blended with that of others.
Likewise, in her keen appreciation of every kindness shown her there was something beautiful. No one could bring her a flower, sing her a song or do her the least favor without its calling forth from her the most grateful thanks. And especially noteworthy was the never ceasing efforts which she made to conceal her own pain so that it might not be the occasion of pain to others. She preferred to sacrifice herself rather than cause others to suffer. In this there was something noble, Christlike, Divine.
The remembrance of that life, so short, and yet so rich in all that is beautiful and good shall rest as a sacred benediction upon all who knew her.
A sweet, joyous and noble soul has left our world and gone to be with the Master, the one she loved and so closely followed, never to be forgotten by parents, brothers, sisters and schoolmates.
May a kind and loving Father lead every member of the sorrowing household so to discern between the material and the spiritual, between the transient and the permanent. That a sweet peace and a joyous hope shall dispel all despondency and gloom from their minds in this sore bereavement.
Rev. E. W. Beers.